DG Legal: Passing Your SQM Audit Course

Achieving the Specialist Quality Mark is essential for organisations who choose the SQM accreditation for delivering legal aid services. This intensive training course will guide you through every stage of the audit process — from preparation to post-audit appeals — ensuring you are confident, compliant, and ready to succeed.

What You’ll Learn

• How to Prepare: Practical steps to get your organisation audit-ready.

• Pre-Audit Submissions: What documents must be sent in advance, and by when.

• Audit Size: How auditors determine time on site, number of interviews and file audits.

• What auditors expect to see in your business planning and financial records.

• How supervision is assessed, including typical questions asked at interview.

• What auditors look for when reviewing your file review records.

• Expectations for training in your category of law, plus mandatory regulatory training.

• Data Protection & Anti-Money Laundering Records: what records must be maintained.

• File Audit Criteria: Detailed breakdown of what is audited on casefiles.

• Full summary of all SQM requirements sections A-G, including annual review requirements.

• Post-Audit Process: Timescales, reporting, and the appeals process explained.

Target Audience

This practical session is tailored for anyone involved in the preparation for an SQM Audit.